US5827504A - Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions - Google Patents

Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US5827504A
US5827504A US08/909,099 US90909997A US5827504A US 5827504 A US5827504 A US 5827504A US 90909997 A US90909997 A US 90909997A US 5827504 A US5827504 A US 5827504A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
microbubbles
suspensions
gas
frozen
contrast agent
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US08/909,099
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Feng Yan
Michel Schneider
Jean Brochot
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bracco Research SA
Original Assignee
Bracco Research SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=8218355&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US5827504(A) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Bracco Research SA filed Critical Bracco Research SA
Priority to US08/909,099 priority Critical patent/US5827504A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5827504A publication Critical patent/US5827504A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
    • A61K49/22—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations
    • A61K49/222—Echographic preparations; Ultrasound imaging preparations ; Optoacoustic imaging preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, liposomes
    • A61K49/223—Microbubbles, hollow microspheres, free gas bubbles, gas microspheres

Definitions

  • the invention relates to suspensions of gas bubbles immobilised within a frozen aqueous carrier medium.
  • the invention also concerns a method of cold storage of the gas bubble suspensions and their use as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging of human and animal body.
  • ultrasound contrast agents in the recent years has generated a number of different formulations which are useful in ultrasound imaging of organs and tissue of human or animal body. These agents are designed to be used primarily as intravenous or intra-arterial injectables in conjunction with the use of medical echographic equipment. These instruments typically group B-mode image formation (based on the spatial distribution of backscatter tissue properties) and Doppler signal processing (based on Continuous Wave or pulsed Doppler processing of ultrasonic echoes to determine blood or liquid flow parameters). Other ultrasound imaging methods could also benefit from these agents in the future, such as Ultrasound Computed Tomography (measuring attenuation in transmission), or Diffraction Computed Tomography (measuring scattering and attenuation parameters in angular reflection).
  • these injectable formulations may basically be divided into two categories: Aqueous suspensions in which the gas microbubbles are bounded by the gas/liquid interface, or an evanescent envelope involving the molecules of the liquid and a surfactant loosely bound at the gas to liquid interface and suspensions in which the microbubbles have a material boundary or a tangible envelope formed of natural or synthetic polymers. In the latter case the microbubbles are referred to as microballoons.
  • ultrasound contrast agents suspensions of porous particles of polymers or other solids which carry gas microbubbles entrapped within the pores of the microparticles.
  • contrast agents are considered here as a variant of the microballoon kind.
  • both kinds of gas microbubbles when in suspension are useful as ultrasonic contrast agents. More on these different formulations may be found in EP-A-0 077 752 (Schering), EP-A-0 123 235 (Schering), EP-A-0 324 938 (Widder et al.), EP-A-0 474 833 (Schneider et al.), EP-A-0 458 745 (Bichon et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,540 (Ryan), U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,882 (Unger), etc.
  • Gas microbubble aggregation is a process during which the larger bubbles absorb the smaller ones, thus growing in size. With phase separation, this process accelerates and suspensions with microbubbles having average size of e.g. between 2 ⁇ m and 8 ⁇ m after a while may evolve in suspensions with microbubble size between e.g. 5 ⁇ m to 12 ⁇ m or larger. This is particularly undesirable in cases where suspensions of calibrated microbubbles and suspensions intended for opacification of the left heart are concerned.
  • the change in size does not only alter the echogenic properties of the contrast agent, but also renders the agent inapplicable for certain applications such as those based on the passage of the microbubbles through the lungs. Microbubbles with sizes over 10 ⁇ m are unlikely to pass through the lung capillaries and therefore, in addition to creating hazardous conditions such suspensions are less suitable for imaging of the left heart.
  • one of the desirable aspects of these contrast agents is for the microbubbles or gas-containing particles to be distributed within a tight size window.
  • the reason is given hereafter.
  • the effectiveness of these agents to increase the contrast in images produced by medical ultrasonographic equipment is based, primarily, on greatly enhanced scattering of the incoming ultrasonic energy, and secondly, on modified attenuation properties of the tissues containing these agents.
  • it is meant a measure of the relative signal amplitude obtained from regions to be perfused by the contrast agent compared with the signal amplitude from regions not receiving the contrast agent.
  • enhancement it is meant an increase in the contrast value observed following administration of the contrast agent, compared to the contrast observed prior administration.
  • the type of imaging equipment most directly benefitting from these agents is the family of echographic instruments (B-mode or Doppler).
  • B-mode or Doppler The different attenuation properties of tissues containing the agent compared to those not containing the agent can also be exploited to improve the diagnostic value of the imaging procedure.
  • the ultrasonic-frequency dependence of both the scattering and attenuation properties of the agent can be exploited to increase spatial tissue discrimination further.
  • the physical laws governing this frequency dependence systematically depend on the microbubble- or particle-size.
  • the algorithms used are more efficient when acting on echoes originating from microbubbles or particles with tight size-distribution.
  • one such approach exploits non-linear oscillation of microbubbles to detect echo frequency-components at the second-harmonic of the fundamental excitation frequency. Since the tissues not containing the contrast agent do not exhibit the same non-linear behaviour as the microbubbles, this method is able to enhance significantly the contrast between the regions containing and those not containing the contrast agent. This enhancement is more pronounced, for a given particle-count per unit volume, when the sizes are narrowly distributed.
  • the preparation of products with such narrow-size distributions is time consuming; providing a ready supply of these calibrated suspensions would facilitate greatly the further development and use of this technique. Reliable storage of such preparations with unchanged size distributions is thus also of great interest.
  • ultrasound contrast agents which contain phospholipids as stabilisers of the gas microbubbles. Due to hydrolysis of phospholipids, the concentration of the stabilizer (surfactant), during storage, is constantly diminished, causing loss of the microbubble content and degradation of echogenic properties of the suspension. Thus so far the problem of storage of ultrasound contrast agents comprising gas microbubble suspensions remains open.
  • the invention relates to frozen suspensions of gas bubbles immobilised within a frozen aqueous carrier medium in which the carrier medium comprising the gas bubbles with usual additives is a physiologically acceptable carrier.
  • the immobilised gas bubbles are microbubbles bound by an evanescent envelope or a tangible membrane and the suspensions, when in liquid form, are injectable into living beings and are useful as a contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging of the blood pool and tissue of human and animal patients.
  • the temperatures of the frozen suspensions are between -1° C. and -196° C., preferably between -10° C. and -76° C. while the size of the gas microbubbles is below 50 ⁇ m and preferably below 10 ⁇ m.
  • Particularly useful are suspensions in which the size of the microbubbles is between 2 ⁇ m and 9 ⁇ m, while the suspensions of microbubbles with size between 3 ⁇ m and 5 ⁇ m are even more useful.
  • the frozen suspensions of the latter would be more advantageous, particularly when lamellar phospholipids in the form of mono- or pluri-molecular membrane layers are used.
  • the invention also relates to a method of storing microbubble suspensions in which the suspension is placed into a cooling device, microbubbles are immobilised within the carrier medium by cooling to a temperature below the freezing point of the suspension, preferably a temperature between -1° C. and -196° C., and more preferably between -10° C. and -76° C., and the freezing conditions are maintained for prolonged periods of time.
  • the frozen suspension may be kept in an atmosphere of an inert gas or a mixture of gases, at least one of which is the gas encapsulated in the microbubbles.
  • the gas is preferably selected from halogen containing gases, air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or mixtures thereof.
  • FIG. 1 is a plot of change in the bubble concentration (count) in defrosted suspensions of SF 6 and air containing 5% of C 5 F 12 microbubbles in an aqueous carrier medium as a function of storage temperature.
  • FIG. 2 is a plot of change in the total gas volume of defrosted suspensions of SF 6 and air containing 5% C 5 F 12 microbubbles in an aqueous carrier medium as a function of storage temperature.
  • FIG. 3 is a graphical presentation of change in absorbance of defrosted microbubble suspensions as a function of external pressure applied and storage temperature.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram showing change of relative absorbance as a function of external pressure applied to defrosted suspensions after storage at different temperatures.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the microbubble size distribution in number (FIG. 5A) and gas volume (FIG. 5B) of calibrated microbubbles with average size of 3 ⁇ m, 4 ⁇ m and 6 ⁇ m.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the microbubble size distibution in number (FIG. 6A) and gas volume (FIG. 6B) for a sample of non-calibrated microbubbles.
  • a frozen suspension of gas microbubbles in which the microbubbles are immobilised within a frozen aqueous carrier medium which in addition to the microbubbles includes usual additives.
  • the aqueous carrier is physiologically acceptable and the suspension, when in a liquid form is injectable into living beings and is useful as an ultrasound contrast agent for imaging of blood pool and tissue of human and animal patients.
  • the immobilised gas microbubbles bound by an evanescent envelope or a tangible membrane are entrapped between molecules of the frozen carrier medium whose temperature is between -1° C. and -196° C., preferably between -10° C. and -76° C.
  • the temperature range used will depend on the choice of gas in the microbubbles but also on the kind and quantity of additives used. Thus, for example, in the case of air or nitrogen, the temperature may be anywhere between -1° C. and -196° C., while, in the case of C 4 F 8 , the temperature will be between -1° C. and -5° C. When polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene copolymers or polyethylene glycol are used as additives depending on the total amount present in the suspension the highest acceptable temperature may be -5° C. or even -10° C. instead of -1° C.
  • microbubble size is typically below 50 ⁇ m, but for intravenously injectable contrast agents the microbubble size will be preferably below 10 ⁇ m.
  • the suspensions with microbubbles having the size distribution between 2 ⁇ m and 9 ⁇ m would satisfy the requirements, however, when dealing with suspensions of calibrated microbubbles the sizes may be anywhere in that range. For example, between 2-4 ⁇ m, 3-5 ⁇ m, 4-6 ⁇ m, 5-7 ⁇ m, 6-8 ⁇ m, 7-9 ⁇ m however the microbubble with the size range between 3 ⁇ m and 5 ⁇ m is preferred.
  • the invention also provides frozen suspensions of microbubbles with a very narrow size distribution.
  • Typical microbubble size distributions of suspensions of calibrated microbubbles will be as those illustrated in FIG. 5. where the distributions are given in terms of the microbubble number distribution (as determined by Coulter counter) FIG. 5A and in terms of the microbubble volume distribution (as determined by Coulter counter) FIG. 5B.
  • the suspensions containing non-calibrated gas bubbles will have typically the number and the volume size distribution patterns similar to those shown in FIGS. 6A & 6B.
  • a further advantage of the invention comes from the fact that in order to generate echo-signal components at twice the fundamental frequency, second harmonic imaging requires non-linear oscillation of the contrast agent. Such behaviour imposes the ultrasound excitation level to exceed a certain acoustic threshold at a certain depth in tissue. During non-linear oscillation, a frequency conversion takes place, causing conversion of the acoustic energy from the fundamental excitation frequency up to its second harmonic. Thus significant energies transmitted to the microbubbles during this type of imaging require microbubbles sufficiently resistant to survive these conditions.
  • the invention provides for an easy and convenient access to suspensions of having microbubbles with good resistance to pressure variations as they can now be prepared in advance, stored and used when needed.
  • the frozen suspensions of the invention contain additives which include various surfactants, viscosity enhancing agents, stabilisers, etc.
  • Surfactants which may include film forming and non-film forming surfactants include phospholipids in lamellar or laminar form which are known to stabilise the microbubble evanescent gas/liquid envelope.
  • the lamellar phospholipids may be a in the form of mono- or pluri-molecular membrane layers or liposomes.
  • the carrier medium may include as additives hydrating agents and/or hydrophilic stabiliser compounds such as polyethylene glycol, carbohydrates such as galactose, lactose or sucrose, dextran, starch, and other polysaccharides or other conventional additives like polyoxypropylene glycol and polyoxyethylene glycol and their copolymers; ethers of fatty alcohols with polyoxyalkylene glycols; esters of fatty acids with polyoxyalkylated sorbitan; soaps; glycerol-polyalkylene stearate; glycerol-polyoxyethylene ricinoleate; homo- and copolymers of polyalkylene glycols; polyethoxylated soya-oil and castor oil as well as hydrogenated derivatives; ethers and esters of sucrose or other carbohydrates with fatty acids, fatty alcohols, these being optionally polyoxyakyl
  • hydrophilic stabiliser compounds such as polyethylene glycol, carbohydrates such as galactose, lacto
  • Surfactants may be film forming and non-film forming and may include polymerizable amphiphilic compounds of the type of linoleyl-lecithins or polyethylene dodecanoate.
  • the surfactants are film forming and more preferably are phospholipids selected from phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol phosphatidylinositol, cardiolipin, sphingomyelin and mixtures thereof.
  • the suspensions may further include up to 50% by weight of non-laminar surfactants selected from fatty acids, esters and ethers of fatty acids and alcohols with polyols such as polyalkylene glycols, polyalkylenated sugars and other carbohydrates, and polyalkylenated glycerol.
  • non-laminar surfactants selected from fatty acids, esters and ethers of fatty acids and alcohols with polyols such as polyalkylene glycols, polyalkylenated sugars and other carbohydrates, and polyalkylenated glycerol.
  • Particularly suitable substances include dicetylphosphate, cholesterol, ergosterol, phytosterol, sitosterol, lanosterol, tocopherol, propyl gallate, ascorbyl palmitate and butylated hydroxytoluene.
  • the invention is not limited only to the suspensions of gas microbubbles with an evanescent envelope. Any suitable particles filled with gases such as porous particles, liposomes or microballoons having an envelope produced from phospholipids, synthetic or natural polymers or proteins may conveniently be used.
  • gases such as porous particles, liposomes or microballoons having an envelope produced from phospholipids, synthetic or natural polymers or proteins may conveniently be used.
  • microballoons prepared with albumin, or liposome vesicles can be successfully stored for prolonged periods of time in the frozen state. Defrosted suspensions containing these microballoons have demonstrated acceptable echogenicities showing a relatively small microbubble loss.
  • the additives used for the suspensions of the invention may further include viscosity enhancers and/or stabilisers selected from linear and cross-linked poly- and oligo-saccharides, sugars, hydrophilic polymers and iodinated compounds.
  • viscosity enhancers and/or stabilisers selected from linear and cross-linked poly- and oligo-saccharides, sugars, hydrophilic polymers and iodinated compounds.
  • the weight ratio of these compounds to the surfactants comprised is between about 1:5 to 100:1.
  • the suspensions according to the invention and prepared with different gases or gas mixtures usually contain 10 7 -10 8 microbubbles/ml, 10 8 -10 9 microbubbles/ml or 10 9 -10 10 microbubbles/ml. These concentrations remain virtually the same after prolonged storage, i.e. several months, and if suspensions are made with SF 6 ,C 3 F 8 or their mixures or mixures of air with SF6 or C 5 F 12 they do not change even after repeated freeze and thaw cycles.
  • the membrane is made of synthetic or natural polymer or protein.
  • the polymer which constitutes the envelope or bounding membrane of the injectable microballoons can be selected from most hydrophilic, biodegradable physiologically compatible polymers. Among such polymers one can cite polysaccharides of low water solubility, polylactides and polyglycolides and their copolymers, copolymers of lactides and lactones such as ⁇ -caprolactone, ⁇ -valerolactone and polypeptides.
  • the great versatility in the selection of synthetic polymers is here of advantage since, as with allergic patients, one may wish to avoid using microballoons made of natural proteins (albumin, gelatin).
  • polystyrene resin examples include poly-(ortho)esters, copolymers of lactic and glycolic acid, poly(DL-lactide-co- ⁇ -caprolactone), poly(DL-lactide-co- ⁇ -valerolactone), poly(DL-lactide-co-g-butyrolactone), polyalkyl-cyano-acrylates; polyamides, polyhydroxybutyrate; polydioxanone; poly- ⁇ -aminoketones, polyphosphazenes and polyanhydrides.
  • Polyamino-acids such as polyglutamic and polyaspartic acids can also be used as well as their derivatives, i.e. partial esters with lower alcohols or glycols.
  • polymers is poly-(tert-butylglutamate).
  • the protein is albumin.
  • halogen containing gases air, oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide may be used alone, recently, use of mixtures of the halogen containing gases with air, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide has also been proposed.
  • the halogen containing gases are gases selected from sulphur hexafluoride, tetrafluoromethane, chlorotrifluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, bromotrifluoromethane, bromochlorodifluoromethane, dibromodifluoromethane dichlorotetrafluoroethane, chloropentafluoroethane, hexafluoroethane, hexafluoropropylene, octafluoropropane, hexafluorobutadiene, octafluoro-2-butene, octafluorocyclobutane, decafluorobutane, perflu
  • the invention also relates to a method of storing microbubble suspensions in which the suspension is placed into a cooling device such as a refrigerator, microbubbles are immobilised within the carrier medium by cooling to a temperature below the freezing point of the suspension, preferably a temperature between -1° C. and -196° C., and more preferably between -10° C. and -76° C. the freezing conditions are maintained for prolonged periods of time.
  • the frozen suspension is kept in an atmosphere of an inert gas or a mixture of gases at least one of which is the gas encapsulated in the microbubbles.
  • the gas is preferably selected from halogen containing gases, air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or mixtures thereof.
  • the injectable suspensions of the invention are useful as contrast agents for ultrasonic imaging of organs and tissue.
  • the suspensions are defrosted and optionally maintained at room temperature for a period of time and then administered to the patient. The patient is then scanned with an ultrasonic probe and an image of the scanned region is produced.
  • a method of the manufacture of ultrasound echographic contrast agents from the frozen injectable suspensions of the invention is meant that fairly concentrated suspensions (e.g. 10 10 -10 11 microbubbles/ml or more) of calibrated or uncalibrated microbubbles are stored in a frozen state for a period of time and when needed defrosted suspensions are, optionally, diluted to the desired concentration by addition of the same or a different physiologically acceptable liquid carrier. It is also envisaged that at this point further additives or conditioners may be added.
  • DAPC diarachidoylphosphatidylcholine
  • DPPA dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid
  • PEG 4000 polyethyleneglycol
  • Siegfried Fifty eight milligrams of diarachidoylphosphatidylcholine (DAPC), 2.4 mg of dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) both from Avanti Polar Lipids (USA) and 3.94 g of polyethyleneglycol (PEG 4000 from Siegfried) were dissolved at 60° C. in tert-butanol (20 ml) in a round bottom glass vessel. The clear solution was rapidly cooled at -45° C. and lyophilised. Aliquots (25 mg) of the white cake obtained were introduced in 10 ml glass vials. The vials were closed with rubber stoppers, evacuated, and filled with selected gases or gas mixtures (see Table 1). Saline (0.9% NaCl) was then injected through the stoppers (5 ml per vial) and the lyophil
  • microbubble suspensions were introduced in a cold storage room (-18° C.). Three days later they were thawed at room temperature (23° C.) and analysed with regard to bubble concentration (by using a Coulter Multisizer) and absorbance at 700 nm of a 1/50 dilution. The absorbance at 700 nm is a measure of the overall turbidity of the bubble suspension.
  • microbubbles filled with C 4 F 8 and C 4 F 10 on their own or in mixtures with small amounts of dodecafluoropentane have very poor stability to freezing/thawing.
  • these gases when used in combination with air suspensions of microbubbles containing the mixtures show better results in terms of echogenicity or the microbubble loss than the suspensions containing air microbubbles.
  • Suspensions of SF 6 microbubbles prepared as described in Example 1 were frozen slowly (approx. 30 min) to -18° C. or rapidly (within a minute) to -45° C.
  • Other suspensions of SF 6 microbubbles were first kept at room temperature until all bubbles had risen at the surface before freezing. Others were frozen while the bubbles were homogeneously distributed in the solution. The frozen suspensions were stored at -18° C. and -45° C. for one month and then defrosted.
  • Multilamellar liposomes were prepared by dissolving 4.5 g of hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC from Nattermann) and 0.5 g of dicetylphosphate (Fluka, Switzerland) in chloroform-methanol (2/1), then evaporating the solvents to dryness in a round bottomed flask using a rotary evaporator. The residual lipid film was dried in a vacuum desiccator. After addition of 100 ml of distilled water the suspension was incubated at 70° C. for 30 min under agitation. The liposome suspension was adjusted to a final lipid concentration of 25 mg per ml by addition of distilled water.
  • HSPC hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine
  • dicetylphosphate dicetylphosphate
  • the experiment described in Example 3 was repeated using a mixture of surfactants instead of MLVs.
  • the surfactant mixture was obtained by dissolving 1 g of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG Na salt from Avanti Polar Lipids, USA) and 3 g of Pluronic® F 68 (a copolymer of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene with a molecular weight of 8400) in distilled water (80 ml). After heating at about 70° C. a clear solution was obtained. This solution was cooled at room temperature and the volume was completed to 100 ml with glycerol. The surfactant solution was introduced in the glass tight reactor equipped with a Polytron emulsifier.
  • SF 6 bubbles were prepared as described in Example 1 and decanted as described in Example 3. During the removal of the lower aqueous phase, an equivalent volume of SF 6 gas was introduced in the funnel. The bubble layer was resuspended in distilled water, 0.9% NaCl, 3% aqueous glycerol solution and 100 mg/ml trehalose solution. The bubble concentrations and absorbance at 700 nm (after dilution) was determined prior to and after a freeze-thaw treatment.
  • Decanted SF 6 microbubbles were obtained as described in Example 5.
  • the microbubble layer was suspended at different bubble concentrations in 0.9% NaCl, then frozen at -18° C., stored for about 4 months and thawed at room temperature.
  • Sonicated albumin microspheres were prepared using the method described in EP-A-0 324 928 (Widder). Briefly, 5 ml of a sterile 5% human albumin solution (from the Blood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, Bern Switzerland) were introduced in a 10 ml calibrated syringe. A sonicator probe (Model 250 from Branson Ultrasonic Corp. USA) was lowered into the solution down to the 4 ml mark. Sonication was carried out for 30 sec at an energy setting of 7. Then the sonicator probe was raised up to the 6 ml mark (i.e. above the solution level) and sonication was pursued in the pulse mode (0.3 s/cycle) for 40 seconds.
  • a sterile 5% human albumin solution from the Blood Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, Bern Switzerland
  • the bubble concentration dropped, about three orders of magnitude, to 2.3 ⁇ 10 5 per ml indicating a considerable loss of microbubbles during the treatment.
  • air in the gas phase was replaced by a mixture of air containing 10% C 5 F 12 , the bubbles were more stable and also more resistant to a freeze/thaw treatment.
  • the loss of microbubbles in the later case was only 2.3 ⁇ 10 8 as the concentration dropped from 3.9 ⁇ 10 8 to 1.6 ⁇ 10 8 bubbles per ml.
  • Polymeric microballoons were prepared using the technique described in Example 4 of EP-A-0 458 745 (Bracco International).
  • the polymer used in this preparation was poly-POMEG which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,398.
  • the microballoons were suspended at a concentration of 1.8 ⁇ 10 8 particles per ml in distilled water, 0.9% NaCl, 5% dextrose, and 3% glycerol. Each of these suspensions was frozen then thawed. No detectable change was observed after thawing, neither on the total particle concentration, nor on the mean particle diameter.
  • a quantity of 126 mg of egg lecithin and 27 mg of cholesterol were dissolved in 9 ml of diethylether in a 200 ml round bottom flask. To the solution were added 3 ml of 0.2 molar aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate with ionophore A23187 and the resulting two phase system sonicated until becoming homogeneous. The mixture was evaporated to dryness on a Rotavapor and a 3 ml of a 0.2 molar aqueous bicarbonate solution were added to the flask containing the lipid deposit.
  • the resulting liposome suspension was dialysed against saline to eliminate non-entrapped bicarbonate and acidified. After a while it was washed with distilled water and then passed several times through a cascade of carbonate filters. An aliquot of the suspension of liposomes with size below 50 ⁇ m was then frozen at -18° and stored at this temperature. Two weeks later the suspension was thawed at room temperature. The suspension analysed before and after freeze/thawing showed an acceptably low loss of echogenicity and microbubble count.
  • Example 3 Procedure of the Example 3 was repeated using SF 6 and air containing 5% C 5 F 12 as the gas phase and the samples of the resulting suspension were frozen at -18° C., -45° C., -76° C. and -196° C. After thirty days of storage at the corresponding freezing temperatures the samples were defrosted and suspensions analysed. The results obtained are presented in Table 8.
  • the concentration of microbubbles in the samples before freezing was 11.6 ⁇ 10 7 /ml for SF 6 and 9.8 ⁇ 10 7 /ml for the air/5% C 5 F 12 mixture while the respective volumes of gases in the samples prior to storing were 2.9 ⁇ l/ml and 5.9 ⁇ l/ml.
  • the average microbubble diameter for the two gases was 2.3 ⁇ m and 4.2 ⁇ m.
  • the total gas volume recovered after the storage for SF 6 is 21.1% of the initial volume while for air/C 5 F 12 mixture the volume recovered is 46.5%. This indicates that the size of microbubbles in the case of suspensions prepared with SF 6 has changed, i.e. that the microbubbles recovered have reduced diameters.
  • FIG. 3 and 4 illustrate the effect of freezing or storage temperature on the resistance to pressure change of suspensions of microbubbles containing a mixture of air with 5% C 5 F 12 .
  • absorbance measured at 700 nm
  • FIG. 3 absorbance (measured at 700 nm) is presented as a function of pressure applied onto suspensions after storage for three days at different temperatures. From this diagram it follows that the decrease in the storage temperature has an impact on the properties of the suspensions such that the change in properties of the suspensions stored at temperatures between -18° C. and -76° C. is significant while the change for the samples stored between -76° C. and -196° C. is relatively small.
  • maintaining storage temperatures below -76° C. does not seem to provide further advantages. In view of the costs involved chosing temperatures below -76° C. may be justified only in exceptional cases.
  • FIG. 4 shows that if suspensions of microbubbles containing air/5% of C 5 F 12 mixture are stored for three days at low temperatures their resistance to pressure variation remains relatively unchanged while the same suspension kept during the same period at 25° C. loses about 10% of its initial resistance to pressure variations.
  • Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed using an ACUSON 128 XP 5 equipment (Acuson Corp. USA) with the preparations of Example 1, 3 and 7 in experimental minipigs following peripheral vein injection of 0.04 ml/kg body weight.
  • Left ventricle echo contrast enhancement was assessed in the case of native as well as frozen/thawed samples. No significant differences were noticed even in the cases of samples such as the ones described in Example 7 for albumin microspheres, indicating that the residual bubbles were largely sufficient to produce a strong and long lasting echo enhancement.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
  • Degasification And Air Bubble Elimination (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Freezing, Cooling And Drying Of Foods (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Micro-Capsules (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Biological Materials (AREA)
US08/909,099 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions Expired - Lifetime US5827504A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/909,099 US5827504A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94810731 1994-12-16
EP94810731.3 1994-12-16
US57354095A 1995-12-15 1995-12-15
US08/909,099 US5827504A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US57354095A Division 1994-12-16 1995-12-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5827504A true US5827504A (en) 1998-10-27

Family

ID=8218355

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/909,100 Expired - Lifetime US5830435A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of storing frozen microbubble suspensions
US08/909,099 Expired - Lifetime US5827504A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions
US08/944,408 Expired - Lifetime US5961956A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-10-06 Frozen ultrasonic gas suspensions

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/909,100 Expired - Lifetime US5830435A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-08-12 Method of storing frozen microbubble suspensions

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/944,408 Expired - Lifetime US5961956A (en) 1994-12-16 1997-10-06 Frozen ultrasonic gas suspensions

Country Status (19)

Country Link
US (3) US5830435A (fr)
EP (1) EP0744962B2 (fr)
JP (1) JP3958358B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR100382811B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1066965C (fr)
AT (1) ATE205404T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU701807B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2181340C (fr)
CZ (1) CZ291540B6 (fr)
DE (1) DE69522670T3 (fr)
DK (1) DK0744962T4 (fr)
ES (1) ES2162943T5 (fr)
FI (1) FI120722B (fr)
IL (1) IL116328A (fr)
NO (1) NO313031B1 (fr)
NZ (1) NZ295744A (fr)
PT (1) PT744962E (fr)
WO (1) WO1996018420A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA9510721B (fr)

Cited By (47)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6317623B1 (en) 1999-03-12 2001-11-13 Medrad, Inc. Apparatus and method for controlling contrast enhanced imaging procedures
US6397098B1 (en) 1994-09-21 2002-05-28 Medrad, Inc. Data communication and control for medical imaging systems
US20040129082A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-07-08 Frinking Peter J A Method for improved measurement of local physical parameters in a fluid-filled cavity
US20040193056A1 (en) * 2003-03-26 2004-09-30 Elena Biagi Echographic examination method using contrast media
WO2006015877A1 (fr) 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Stichting Voor De Technische Wetenschappen Techniques ultrasonores intravasculaires
US20060051297A1 (en) * 2003-02-04 2006-03-09 Bracco International B.V Ultrasound contrast agents and process for the preparation thereof
US20070071685A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2007-03-29 Bracco Research S.A. Gas-filled microvesicle assembly for contrast imaging
US20070081946A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2007-04-12 Bracco Research S.A. Assembly of gas-filled microvesicle with active component for contrast imaging
US20070128117A1 (en) * 2003-02-04 2007-06-07 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and process for the preparation thereof
WO2008016992A1 (fr) 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Séquences d'inversion d'impulsion pour imagerie non linéaire
US20080045919A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2008-02-21 Bracco Research S.A. Liquid Transfer Device for Medical Dispensing Containers
US20080281205A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2008-11-13 Morteza Naghavi Methods and Apparatuses For Medical Imaging
US20090041833A1 (en) * 2005-04-18 2009-02-12 Bracco Research S.A. Composition comprising gas-filled microcapsules for ultrasound mediated delivery
US20090159485A1 (en) * 2005-12-16 2009-06-25 Bracco Research S.A. Liquid Transfer Device for Medical Dispensing Containers
US20100008863A1 (en) * 2006-12-19 2010-01-14 Swenson Rolf E Targeting and therapeutic compounds and gas-filled microvesicles comprising said compounds
US20110172486A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-07-14 Quentin Andrew Pankhurst Magnetic microbubbles, methods of preparing them and their uses
US20110200530A1 (en) * 2008-10-07 2011-08-18 Bracco Research S.A. or Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeting construct comprising anti-polymer antibody and contrast/therapeutic agents binding to the same
US8012457B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2011-09-06 Acusphere, Inc. Ultrasound contrast agent dosage formulation
WO2012020001A1 (fr) 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) Procédés et compositions pharmaceutiques pour le traitement d'une maladie oculaire chez un sujet
WO2012020030A1 (fr) 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 Bracco Suisse Sa Microvésicules ciblées remplies de gaz
WO2012085072A1 (fr) 2010-12-24 2012-06-28 Bracco Suisse Sa Microvésicules remplies de gaz pour l'utilisation en tant que vaccin
WO2012136813A2 (fr) 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Universitetet I Oslo Agents pour un diagnostic par radar médical
US8394070B2 (en) 2008-12-16 2013-03-12 Bracco Suisse S.A. Device for bolus administration of contrast agent
US9008759B2 (en) 2007-07-17 2015-04-14 Bayer Medical Care Inc. Devices and systems for determination of parameters for a procedure, for estimation of cardiopulmonary function and for fluid delivery
US20150164787A1 (en) * 2012-04-06 2015-06-18 Children's Medical Center Corporation Process for forming microbubbles with high oxygen content and uses thereof
US9238099B2 (en) 2004-11-24 2016-01-19 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and apparatus for modeling pressures generated during an injection procedure
US9248204B2 (en) 2004-08-18 2016-02-02 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles composition for contrast imaging
US9302044B2 (en) 2006-12-29 2016-04-05 Bayer Healthcare Llc Patient-based parameter generation systems for medical injection procedures
US9315829B2 (en) 2010-01-19 2016-04-19 Universite Paris Descartes Methods for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids
US9421330B2 (en) 2008-11-03 2016-08-23 Bayer Healthcare Llc Mitigation of contrast-induced nephropathy
US9446156B2 (en) 2006-09-05 2016-09-20 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles with polymer-modified lipids
US9616166B2 (en) 2004-11-16 2017-04-11 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods of determining injection protocols for diagnostic imaging procedures
WO2017137477A1 (fr) 2016-02-09 2017-08-17 Bracco Suisse Sa Protéine chimérique recombinante pour le ciblage de sélectines
US9949704B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2018-04-24 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods for determination of pharmaceutical fluid injection protocols based on x-ray tube voltage
US9959389B2 (en) 2010-06-24 2018-05-01 Bayer Healthcare Llc Modeling of pharmaceutical propagation and parameter generation for injection protocols
US10010630B2 (en) 2012-12-21 2018-07-03 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles
US10537622B2 (en) 2014-12-22 2020-01-21 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles for use as vaccine
US10577554B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2020-03-03 Children's Medical Center Corporation Gas-filled stabilized particles and methods of use
US10682429B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2020-06-16 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeted gas-filled microvesicles formulation
US10898638B2 (en) 2016-03-03 2021-01-26 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and method for improved fluid delivery in multi-fluid injector systems
US11141535B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2021-10-12 Bayer Healthcare Llc Fluid path impedance assessment for improving fluid delivery performance
US11147890B2 (en) 2017-02-28 2021-10-19 Children's Medical Center Corporation Stimuli-responsive particles encapsulating a gas and methods of use
US11278853B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2022-03-22 Bayer Healthcare Llc Method for controlling fluid accuracy and backflow compensation
US11478581B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2022-10-25 Bayer Healthcare Llc Fluid injector system volume compensation system and method
US11598664B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-03-07 Bayer Healthcare Llc Injector pressure calibration system and method
US11779702B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-10-10 Bayer Healthcare Llc Method for dynamic pressure control in a fluid injector system
US11786652B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-10-17 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and method for drive member position and fluid injector system mechanical calibration

Families Citing this family (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5837221A (en) * 1996-07-29 1998-11-17 Acusphere, Inc. Polymer-lipid microencapsulated gases for use as imaging agents
GB9617811D0 (en) 1996-08-27 1996-10-09 Nycomed Imaging As Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
US6610764B1 (en) 1997-05-12 2003-08-26 Metabolix, Inc. Polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions having controlled degradation rates
US6867248B1 (en) 1997-05-12 2005-03-15 Metabolix, Inc. Polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions having controlled degradation rates
US6828357B1 (en) 1997-07-31 2004-12-07 Metabolix, Inc. Polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions having controlled degradation rates
GB9717589D0 (en) * 1997-08-19 1997-10-22 Nycomed Imaging As Improvements in or relating to contrast agents
ZA9811087B (en) 1997-12-04 1999-06-03 Bracco Research Sa Automatic liquid injection system and method
EP2258742A1 (fr) 1997-12-22 2010-12-08 Metabolix, Inc. Compositions de polyhydroxyalcanoates à vitesses de degradation regulées
DE19805012A1 (de) * 1998-02-07 1999-08-12 Thomas Gieselmann Kontrastmittel zur Verwendung als Diagnostikum bei bildgebenden Verfahren sowie seine Herstellung
DE19840536A1 (de) 1998-08-28 2000-03-09 Schering Ag Mit Ultraschallkontrastmittel gefüllte Spritze mit einer magnetischen Bewegungsvorrichtung
DE19840532A1 (de) 1998-08-28 2000-03-09 Schering Ag Mit Ultraschallkonstrastmittel gefüllte Spritze mit einer mechanischen Bewegungsvorrichtung
US6514515B1 (en) 1999-03-04 2003-02-04 Tepha, Inc. Bioabsorbable, biocompatible polymers for tissue engineering
US6575930B1 (en) 1999-03-12 2003-06-10 Medrad, Inc. Agitation devices and dispensing systems incorporating such agitation devices
DK1163019T3 (da) 1999-03-25 2008-03-03 Metabolix Inc Medicinske indretninger og anvendelser af polyhydroxyalkanoatpolymere
WO2001012069A1 (fr) 1999-08-13 2001-02-22 Point Biomedical Corporation Microspheres creuses a fragilite controlee a usage medical
EP2286843A3 (fr) 2000-06-02 2011-08-03 Bracco Suisse SA Composés pour le ciblage de cellules endothéliales
US6387077B1 (en) 2000-10-13 2002-05-14 Mallinckrodt Inc. Apparatus and method for providing a suspended agent
US7794693B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2010-09-14 Bracco International B.V. Targeting vector-phospholipid conjugates
ES2506142T3 (es) 2002-03-01 2014-10-13 Dyax Corp. Péptidos de unión a KDR y a VEGF/KDR y su uso en diagnóstico
US8623822B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2014-01-07 Bracco Suisse Sa KDR and VEGF/KDR binding peptides and their use in diagnosis and therapy
US7261876B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2007-08-28 Bracco International Bv Multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
EP1587944A4 (fr) 2002-03-01 2007-03-21 Dyax Corp Peptides de liaison kdr et vegf/kdr et leur utilisation a des fins diagnostiques et therapeutiques
US7211240B2 (en) 2002-03-01 2007-05-01 Bracco International B.V. Multivalent constructs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications
DK2284180T3 (en) 2003-03-03 2015-12-21 Dyax Corp Uses of peptides that specifically bind to the HGF receptor (cMET)
JP2007525601A (ja) 2003-05-08 2007-09-06 テファ， インコーポレイテッド ポリヒドロキシアルカノエート医療用織物および医療用繊維
CA2826960A1 (fr) 2005-12-09 2007-06-14 Bracco Suisse Sa Conjugues vecteur de ciblage-phospholipides
US7943683B2 (en) 2006-12-01 2011-05-17 Tepha, Inc. Medical devices containing oriented films of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers
JP6594772B2 (ja) 2012-04-30 2019-10-23 ジーイー・ヘルスケア・アクスイェ・セルスカプ 発泡性組成物を容器に充填する方法
CA2958747C (fr) 2014-08-15 2022-08-16 Tepha, Inc. Sutures auto-retentive de poly-4-hydroxybutyrate et de copolymeres de celui-ci
US10626521B2 (en) 2014-12-11 2020-04-21 Tepha, Inc. Methods of manufacturing mesh sutures from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof
WO2016094669A1 (fr) 2014-12-11 2016-06-16 Tepha, Inc. Procédés d'orientation de fil multifilament et de monofilaments de poly-4-hydroxybutyrate et de copolymères de celui-ci
CN104622848A (zh) * 2015-02-13 2015-05-20 西安交通大学 一种等离子体活化包膜微气泡
CN105569124B (zh) * 2016-01-31 2017-12-01 天津市建筑设计院 一种变频调速变压供水装置及其控制方法
CN110051630A (zh) * 2019-02-03 2019-07-26 彭盛 一种载氧聚合物微泡及其制备方法

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1467900A1 (de) * 1964-12-23 1969-01-16 Ferring Ab Roentgenkontrastmittel und Verfahren zur Herstellung solcher Mittel
US4276885A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-07-07 Rasor Associates, Inc Ultrasonic image enhancement
US4347707A (en) * 1981-03-31 1982-09-07 General Foods Corporation Gasified ice product and process having improved storage stability
US5205287A (en) * 1990-04-26 1993-04-27 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast agents, processes for their preparation and the use thereof as diagnostic and therapeutic agents
US5271961A (en) * 1989-11-06 1993-12-21 Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc. Method for producing protein microspheres
US5518709A (en) * 1991-04-10 1996-05-21 Andaris Limited Preparation of diagnostic agents
US5529766A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-06-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4219724A1 (de) † 1992-06-13 1993-12-16 Schering Ag Verwendung von Mikrokapseln als Kontrastmittel für die Farbdoppler-Sonographie
US5228446A (en) † 1989-12-22 1993-07-20 Unger Evan C Gas filled liposomes and their use as ultrasonic contrast agents
IN172208B (fr) * 1990-04-02 1993-05-01 Sint Sa
AU635449B2 (en) † 1990-10-05 1993-03-18 Bracco International B.V. Method for the preparation of stable suspensions of hollow gas-filled microspheres suitable for ultrasonic echography
CZ286149B6 (cs) † 1991-09-17 2000-01-12 Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Plynná prostředí pro zvýšení kontrastnosti obrazu, získaného ultrazvukem a způsob výběru plynů pro toto použití
IL104084A (en) † 1992-01-24 1996-09-12 Bracco Int Bv Sustainable aqueous suspensions of pressure-resistant and gas-filled blisters, their preparation, and contrast agents containing them

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1467900A1 (de) * 1964-12-23 1969-01-16 Ferring Ab Roentgenkontrastmittel und Verfahren zur Herstellung solcher Mittel
US4276885A (en) * 1979-05-04 1981-07-07 Rasor Associates, Inc Ultrasonic image enhancement
US4347707A (en) * 1981-03-31 1982-09-07 General Foods Corporation Gasified ice product and process having improved storage stability
US5271961A (en) * 1989-11-06 1993-12-21 Alkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc. Method for producing protein microspheres
US5205287A (en) * 1990-04-26 1993-04-27 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Ultrasonic contrast agents, processes for their preparation and the use thereof as diagnostic and therapeutic agents
US5529766A (en) * 1991-03-28 1996-06-25 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5529766C1 (en) * 1991-03-28 2002-06-04 Nycomed Imaging As Contrast agents
US5518709A (en) * 1991-04-10 1996-05-21 Andaris Limited Preparation of diagnostic agents

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Journal of Liposome Research, pp. 861 874 (1994); Unger et al: Gas Filled Lipid Bilayers as Imaging Contrast Agents . *
Journal of Liposome Research, pp. 861-874 (1994); Unger et al: "Gas Filled Lipid Bilayers as Imaging Contrast Agents".

Cited By (79)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6970735B2 (en) 1994-09-21 2005-11-29 Medrad, Inc. Data communication and control for medical imaging systems
US6397098B1 (en) 1994-09-21 2002-05-28 Medrad, Inc. Data communication and control for medical imaging systems
US6317623B1 (en) 1999-03-12 2001-11-13 Medrad, Inc. Apparatus and method for controlling contrast enhanced imaging procedures
US6939302B2 (en) 1999-03-12 2005-09-06 Medrad, Inc. Apparatus and method for controlling contrast enhanced imaging procedures
US20040129082A1 (en) * 2001-04-06 2004-07-08 Frinking Peter J A Method for improved measurement of local physical parameters in a fluid-filled cavity
US6962071B2 (en) 2001-04-06 2005-11-08 Bracco Research S.A. Method for improved measurement of local physical parameters in a fluid-filled cavity
US20060051297A1 (en) * 2003-02-04 2006-03-09 Bracco International B.V Ultrasound contrast agents and process for the preparation thereof
US20070128117A1 (en) * 2003-02-04 2007-06-07 Bracco International B.V. Ultrasound contrast agents and process for the preparation thereof
US9364569B2 (en) 2003-02-04 2016-06-14 Bracco Suisse S.A. Ultrasound contrast agents and process for the preparation thereof
US20040193056A1 (en) * 2003-03-26 2004-09-30 Elena Biagi Echographic examination method using contrast media
US9750821B2 (en) 2003-12-22 2017-09-05 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicle assembly for contrast imaging
US20070071685A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2007-03-29 Bracco Research S.A. Gas-filled microvesicle assembly for contrast imaging
US20070081946A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2007-04-12 Bracco Research S.A. Assembly of gas-filled microvesicle with active component for contrast imaging
US20110150778A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2011-06-23 Bracco Research S.A. Assembly of Gas-Filled Microvesicle With Active Component For Contrast Imaging
US20080281205A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2008-11-13 Morteza Naghavi Methods and Apparatuses For Medical Imaging
US8586005B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2013-11-19 Acusphere, Inc. Ultrasound contrast agent dosage formulation
US8012457B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2011-09-06 Acusphere, Inc. Ultrasound contrast agent dosage formulation
WO2006015877A1 (fr) 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Stichting Voor De Technische Wetenschappen Techniques ultrasonores intravasculaires
WO2006015876A2 (fr) 2004-08-13 2006-02-16 Stichting Voor De Technische Wetenschappen Techniques basees sur les ultrasons intravasculaires
US10076580B2 (en) 2004-08-18 2018-09-18 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles composition for contrast imaging
US9248204B2 (en) 2004-08-18 2016-02-02 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles composition for contrast imaging
US9616166B2 (en) 2004-11-16 2017-04-11 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods of determining injection protocols for diagnostic imaging procedures
US9950107B2 (en) 2004-11-24 2018-04-24 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods for managing workflow for injection procedures
US10166326B2 (en) 2004-11-24 2019-01-01 Bayer Healthcare Llc Devices, systems and methods for determining parameters of one or more phases of an injection procedure
US9238099B2 (en) 2004-11-24 2016-01-19 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and apparatus for modeling pressures generated during an injection procedure
US20080045919A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2008-02-21 Bracco Research S.A. Liquid Transfer Device for Medical Dispensing Containers
US20090041833A1 (en) * 2005-04-18 2009-02-12 Bracco Research S.A. Composition comprising gas-filled microcapsules for ultrasound mediated delivery
US9375397B2 (en) 2005-04-18 2016-06-28 Bracco Suisse S.A. Composition comprising gas-filled microcapsules for ultrasound mediated delivery
US20110208115A1 (en) * 2005-04-18 2011-08-25 Bracco Research S.A. Composition Comprising Gas-Filled Microcapsules For Ultrasound Mediated Delivery
US9238103B2 (en) 2005-12-16 2016-01-19 Bracco Suisse S.A. Liquid transfer device for medical dispensing containers
US20090159485A1 (en) * 2005-12-16 2009-06-25 Bracco Research S.A. Liquid Transfer Device for Medical Dispensing Containers
WO2008016992A1 (fr) 2006-08-01 2008-02-07 Scimed Life Systems, Inc. Séquences d'inversion d'impulsion pour imagerie non linéaire
US7967753B2 (en) 2006-08-01 2011-06-28 Stichting Voor de Technische Wetenschappen of Van Vollenhovenlaan Pulse inversion sequences for nonlinear imaging
US20080077018A1 (en) * 2006-08-01 2008-03-27 Frijlink Martijn E Pulse Inversion Sequences For Nonlinear Imaging
US9446156B2 (en) 2006-09-05 2016-09-20 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles with polymer-modified lipids
US20100086490A1 (en) * 2006-12-19 2010-04-08 Bracco Research S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles with targeting ligand or therapeutic agent
US20100008863A1 (en) * 2006-12-19 2010-01-14 Swenson Rolf E Targeting and therapeutic compounds and gas-filled microvesicles comprising said compounds
US8293214B2 (en) 2006-12-19 2012-10-23 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeting and therapeutic compounds and gas-filled microvesicles comprising said compounds
US10463782B2 (en) 2006-12-29 2019-11-05 Bayer Healthcare Llc Patient-based parameter generation systems for medical injection procedures
US9302044B2 (en) 2006-12-29 2016-04-05 Bayer Healthcare Llc Patient-based parameter generation systems for medical injection procedures
US9008759B2 (en) 2007-07-17 2015-04-14 Bayer Medical Care Inc. Devices and systems for determination of parameters for a procedure, for estimation of cardiopulmonary function and for fluid delivery
US9427396B2 (en) 2008-06-27 2016-08-30 Ucl Business Plc Magnetic microbubbles, methods of preparing them and their uses
US20110172486A1 (en) * 2008-06-27 2011-07-14 Quentin Andrew Pankhurst Magnetic microbubbles, methods of preparing them and their uses
US9192685B2 (en) 2008-10-07 2015-11-24 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeting construct comprising anti-polymer antibody and contrast/therapeutic agents binding to the same
US20110200530A1 (en) * 2008-10-07 2011-08-18 Bracco Research S.A. or Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeting construct comprising anti-polymer antibody and contrast/therapeutic agents binding to the same
US9421330B2 (en) 2008-11-03 2016-08-23 Bayer Healthcare Llc Mitigation of contrast-induced nephropathy
US8394070B2 (en) 2008-12-16 2013-03-12 Bracco Suisse S.A. Device for bolus administration of contrast agent
US9315829B2 (en) 2010-01-19 2016-04-19 Universite Paris Descartes Methods for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids
US9959389B2 (en) 2010-06-24 2018-05-01 Bayer Healthcare Llc Modeling of pharmaceutical propagation and parameter generation for injection protocols
WO2012020030A1 (fr) 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 Bracco Suisse Sa Microvésicules ciblées remplies de gaz
US9333273B2 (en) 2010-08-09 2016-05-10 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeting constructs
WO2012020001A1 (fr) 2010-08-09 2012-02-16 INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) Procédés et compositions pharmaceutiques pour le traitement d'une maladie oculaire chez un sujet
US9211348B2 (en) 2010-08-09 2015-12-15 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeted gas-filled microvesicles
US9770411B2 (en) 2010-12-24 2017-09-26 Bracco Suisse S.A. Methods of using gas-filled microvesicles covalently bound to an antigen
WO2012085072A1 (fr) 2010-12-24 2012-06-28 Bracco Suisse Sa Microvésicules remplies de gaz pour l'utilisation en tant que vaccin
WO2012136813A2 (fr) 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Universitetet I Oslo Agents pour un diagnostic par radar médical
US20150164787A1 (en) * 2012-04-06 2015-06-18 Children's Medical Center Corporation Process for forming microbubbles with high oxygen content and uses thereof
US10357450B2 (en) * 2012-04-06 2019-07-23 Children's Medical Center Corporation Process for forming microbubbles with high oxygen content and uses thereof
US9949704B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2018-04-24 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods for determination of pharmaceutical fluid injection protocols based on x-ray tube voltage
US11191501B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2021-12-07 Bayer Healthcare Llc Systems and methods for determination of pharmaceutical fluid injection protocols based on x-ray tube voltage
US10010630B2 (en) 2012-12-21 2018-07-03 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles
US11278853B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2022-03-22 Bayer Healthcare Llc Method for controlling fluid accuracy and backflow compensation
US10577554B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2020-03-03 Children's Medical Center Corporation Gas-filled stabilized particles and methods of use
US10682429B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2020-06-16 Bracco Suisse S.A. Targeted gas-filled microvesicles formulation
US11071792B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2021-07-27 Braceo Suisse SA Targeted gas-filled microvesicles formulation
US12070512B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2024-08-27 Bracco Suisse Sa Targeted gas-filled microvesicles formulation
US10537622B2 (en) 2014-12-22 2020-01-21 Bracco Suisse S.A. Gas-filled microvesicles for use as vaccine
WO2017137477A1 (fr) 2016-02-09 2017-08-17 Bracco Suisse Sa Protéine chimérique recombinante pour le ciblage de sélectines
US11370826B2 (en) 2016-02-09 2022-06-28 Bracco Suisse Sa Recombinant chimeric protein for selectins targeting
US11905323B2 (en) 2016-02-09 2024-02-20 Bracco Suisse Recombinant chimeric protein for selectins targeting
US11672902B2 (en) 2016-03-03 2023-06-13 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and method for improved fluid delivery in multi-fluid injector systems
US10898638B2 (en) 2016-03-03 2021-01-26 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and method for improved fluid delivery in multi-fluid injector systems
US11147890B2 (en) 2017-02-28 2021-10-19 Children's Medical Center Corporation Stimuli-responsive particles encapsulating a gas and methods of use
US11141535B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2021-10-12 Bayer Healthcare Llc Fluid path impedance assessment for improving fluid delivery performance
US11779702B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-10-10 Bayer Healthcare Llc Method for dynamic pressure control in a fluid injector system
US11786652B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-10-17 Bayer Healthcare Llc System and method for drive member position and fluid injector system mechanical calibration
US11826553B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-11-28 Bayer Healthcare Llc Fluid path impedance assessment for improving fluid delivery performance
US11598664B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2023-03-07 Bayer Healthcare Llc Injector pressure calibration system and method
US11478581B2 (en) 2017-08-31 2022-10-25 Bayer Healthcare Llc Fluid injector system volume compensation system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT744962E (pt) 2002-02-28
CZ291540B6 (cs) 2003-03-12
US5961956A (en) 1999-10-05
CN1141001A (zh) 1997-01-22
IL116328A (en) 1999-09-22
EP0744962B1 (fr) 2001-09-12
EP0744962A1 (fr) 1996-12-04
US5830435A (en) 1998-11-03
DE69522670D1 (de) 2001-10-18
NZ295744A (en) 1997-08-22
WO1996018420A1 (fr) 1996-06-20
NO313031B1 (no) 2002-08-05
KR970701066A (ko) 1997-03-17
EP0744962B2 (fr) 2005-09-07
JP3958358B2 (ja) 2007-08-15
JPH09509433A (ja) 1997-09-22
ES2162943T5 (es) 2006-03-01
CA2181340A1 (fr) 1996-06-20
AU3935295A (en) 1996-07-03
AU701807B2 (en) 1999-02-04
CA2181340C (fr) 2007-09-11
FI120722B (fi) 2010-02-15
DE69522670T2 (de) 2002-06-20
ZA9510721B (en) 1996-06-20
NO963327L (no) 1996-08-09
DK0744962T3 (da) 2001-12-31
NO963327D0 (no) 1996-08-09
FI963202A (fi) 1996-08-15
CZ242096A3 (en) 1996-11-13
FI963202A0 (fi) 1996-08-15
CN1066965C (zh) 2001-06-13
MX9603330A (es) 1997-12-31
DE69522670T3 (de) 2006-06-14
KR100382811B1 (ko) 2003-08-19
ES2162943T3 (es) 2002-01-16
ATE205404T1 (de) 2001-09-15
IL116328A0 (en) 1996-03-31
DK0744962T4 (da) 2006-01-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5827504A (en) Method of echographic imaging using frozen gasbubble suspensions
RU2138293C1 (ru) Контрастные вещества для ультразвуковой эхографии, контрастные средства, содержащие эти вещества, и способы их приготовления
US6881397B2 (en) Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
US6221337B1 (en) Microbubbles surrounded by a monolayer of negatively charged phospholipids as contrast agents
US5380519A (en) Stable microbubbles suspensions injectable into living organisms
US6585955B1 (en) Long-lasting aqueous dispersions or suspensions of pressure-resistant gas-filled microvesicles and methods for the preparation thereof
US20120093732A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20060257321A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20040208826A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US6613306B1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US6217850B1 (en) Method of making lyophilized microbubble compositions useful as contrast agents
EP1228770B1 (fr) Agent de contraste lyophilisable comprenant des microbulles de gaz
US20060034771A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20010008626A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20030185759A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20030194376A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20010012507A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
MXPA96003330A (en) Method of storage of suspensions gaseosasultrasoni
US20030064030A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them
US20010024640A1 (en) Ultrasound contrast agents and methods of making and using them

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 12